A SIDE-STORY based on...
Hanazakari no Kimitachi e
Hana Kimi story by: Hisaya Nakajo
Featured in: Hakusensha's Hana to Yume
This tale by: Hideki Kinomoto
Authors note: It's been some time since I've typed up new content for "The Phantom of the Opera", but just because I know you're all being so amazingly patient, I couldn't help but write a very off-topic Side Story this turn around. Here forth called "Filler". This small, one chapter, side story is set during medieval times yet with a gothic Victorian setting all at once. It's a tale blood, betrayal, vengeance, and love! A lot of the plot elements had to be removed, so some of the story may seemed rush. Please enjoy this Filler Chapter to the best of your abilities!
-BLOOD TAINTED KISSES-
The room seemed to engulf all light. Giving a sense of absolute despair, yet at the same time, it was the only comfort she had found since her abduction by demons. Eyes of elegant topaz gave up long ago trying to discern their surroundings. In the very pit of her stomach she felt she may die in this place. If for nothing more than losing her own sanity, as this rooms penetrating darkness dared tear all else from her. Shivering faintly, arms reached downward, feeling the fabric of her dress. A present her father had recently doted upon her with. Would she ever see his face again? Fingernails raked at the lace and frills, a dress too wonderful to not be seen. A loud ruffling sound of fabric forced her to claw into her clothing, spinning around in the direction of the noise. There was a window. Tree limbs swaying violently as a strong wind ravaged at their leaves. The sky was as malevolent as her host had been.
Edging closer to the dim light the dark clouds allowed, she realized just how large this window was. Narrow, maybe a good four feet wide, but it was amazingly tall, spanning to what she only surmised to be the ceiling. At least a good twenty feet. Pale hands, still shaking at an unknown terror, reached upward to touch the glass. Upon the tenderest touch she could tell the glass was too thick for her to ever dream of breaking. In the pale light, her eyes fell down to the ground. Even this smallest of hopes paid a heavy toll upon her, once realized there was no escape. Eyes, bleary with tears, attempted to focus on the soft white, yet overly fancy dress. There was blood spattered here and there. Blood that was not her own, but towns people who got in the way of the demon abductors path. The image of her father charging through the door to find the monster in her room, wrestling to contain her. With a single swipe of his claws, he had fallen.
"He...he isn't dead..." she mumbles to herself to calm the rising panic that clutched at her chest. "He can't be..." Words grew shaky as tears ached to mute her voice.
"You are right."
Where had the voice come from? Suddenly torn out of her self torment and fear, the girl began to look around the dimly lit room. Only now noticing that several wall mounted candles now held flames, splintering the darkness with their soft glow. The shape of a large bed, four post rising upward holding a large wooden canopy. Dark, yet transparent curtains draped both sides and the foot. Even from here she could tell the headboard was crafted with gargoyles, flush against the wall. "This way." resonated a voice, not in her ears, but her mind. Sharply turning to the left, then a flash of lightning brightened the room momentarily. There sat a man in a chair which shared the same elegance as the rest of the room in her sweeping glance over it. His eyes glowed a deep red, for but a few short seconds.
"Who are you?!" squeaked her voice. She wasn't yet certain if she dared trust the figure. Surely not, after all, she was in the dwelling of demons. "Show yourself!" Still shaky, the loud boom of thunder making her words barely audible.
"A vane attempt at courage, but I applaud it no less." His voice was deep, yet somehow soft and soothing. Slowly rising from the chair, the form began to step forward, stopping shortly after in response to the girl stepping back defensively. "That won't do."
"Are you the demon who abducted me!? Where have you taken me?" The courage was a nice facade that calmed her, a false sense of control of the situation. Or perhaps it was his voice that calmed the hysteria, least momentarily.
"Noble girls are pathetic at making me wish to keep them alive. So terribly annoying." Clearing his throat, he bent half down, bowing towards the girl. "I am Lord Shin, Count of Castle Evalice. That would be where you are. Be at ease, the grounds are well protected." While curt and initially menacing, he hadn't broke from his soothing way of speaking.
"Count...Shin?" She whispered. There had been words shared and even more the rumors regarding the Count of Castle Evalice. This man was a demon of sorts, but none like the tormentors of Hell. The man wasn't even man, he was a Vampire. "How can you presume me safe?! There is no such safety in the company of a Vampire..." Soft as the light may have been, she didn't dare leap back into the shadows to get away from the creature.
"Very good, you know what I am." As his words ended, a very feral howl carried on the wind. Definitely not thunder. There were several ghoulish groans that accompanied, sounds that would send chills down ones very spine. "Do you hear their cry? It is I, and I alone, whom they obey. I believe they are upset you do not offer me the pleasure of introducing yourself, as I have."
"Introduce myself...to a monster?" The end of the sentence was more of gasp. The sounds that carried on the wind were upsetting to her nerves. So upsetting, she dared not infuriate them again. "I am Mizuki...you obviously know I am of noble background. For me, they'll hire the best kind of hunter to take care of the worst kind of villain. Would be in your best interest to leave me unharmed..." More false courage, bellowed out with little thought. She still couldn't see the Counts face, the shadows blotted him out like the deepest ink.
"Oh, it is this I count on." His words were a hiss, seeming to echo in Mizuki's mind. "The Hunter I seek, surely they will hire him, yes? I grazed your father in an attempt to fortify him with more anger regarding the situation. You will perform your task, very well at that." The words sounded more thoughtful. Though all of this came off as part of a well laid plan.
"You seek a certain Hunter? Surely there are other ways to lure this man out than to bother me with your childish playtime, demon..." The words had a poison to them, anger surfacing as she realized she was but a pawn in the Vampire's game with a Hunter. But not just any Hunter and realization hit. Terror frosting her vision. "Izumi...you're after..."
Lord Shin let out a sigh that sounded like it could have carried a growl within it. Stepping forward, he revealed himself to the dim light of the window, another flash of lightning bringing the room to sight. But it wasn't the room Mizuki's eyes focused intently on. He held a surreal beauty that she had never before seen, this being her first encounter with a Vampire. His hair was very unkept, messy, brown and yet somehow stylish. Face near powdery white with paleness, looking smooth and porcelain. Those eyes though, they glowed a distinct deep red. The color of blood. The color of hunger. Slipping his arms from his cape, it draped behind his back now. The dark black attire beneath working well with his pale features. Beneath his black undercoat sleeves showed frilly white fabric from his shirt. The same silken white from his collar, an elegant cravat garnished ironically by a silver cross. Everything about his attire was very early Victorian. Beautiful. Her iced over stare of horror seemed to fade a bit. That still however did not change the situation one bit.
"Yes. It wasn't your money or your standing that drew me to you. Its quite silly that you realized this only now." Eyes of blood soaked ruby glanced out the window as he spoke. "Izumi of the Holy Order, your lover. He is the one I seek to end." Quickly those eyes of his were back upon Mizuki. "Pardon my straight forward ways, but you're more beautiful than I figured you would be. Perhaps more than Izumi deserves."
"Stay back!" She spat out, watching the Counts body movements, sensing he would soon step closer. It was undeniable there was something about him that drew her to him, but she wasn't going to allow it. No doubt a trait he had, to lure in his prey and devour them. That she wouldn't stand for, it wasn't how she wanted to die. "I'll warn Izumi of your trickery somehow. Even if I have to make it past these "pets" of yours..."
"Please, Mizuki." He looked amused at her words, knowing she'd be torn to shreds the moment she dared to leave even this room. "Take leave of this room and you take leave of your existence. Long as you remain here those "pets" mind not your sweet aroma." Eyeing her, his tongue played tenderly at a fang. The action did not go unnoticed by Mizuki, her shudder reflected in his vision turning a smirk to his lips. "Though, one false move against me and the tortured souls of a thousand slain warriors will descend upon all. Including you, in this very chamber." He stepped forward, Mizuki did not step back. A foot at best existed between the two as they stood within the windows span, shadows etched along the floor. "They will suckle upon your innards, gnaw at your intestines. Your flesh and blood but icing on the cake that is your existence. A delicious morsel..."
"Monsters..." whispered Mizuki, her eyes glued to the Counts. He had lifted a hand, raking the back of his lengthy claw-like fingernails across her cheek. It was like being touched by a glacier, but it did not pull Mizuki entirely out of her minds wanderings. "All of you deserve to die..."
Count Shin's hand had fallen from her face, those same claws had delicately slipped down the side of her neck, over her shoulder and town her arm before grasping her hand. Swiftly, he placed her hand over his chest, where his heart would beat if he were anything but undead. He felt hard, like stone. Even if she had a way to kill him, to pierce his heart with anything, there was no way she could penetrate his iron skin. But that was not his reasoning for doing this. Slowly, he leaned in, feeling her body quiver at his closeness and sensing the slight distress that rattled her soul.
"Then kill me." It was a straight forward request. No. It was a straight forward command. They were much too close now. Close enough for him to feel the flushed heat of her face upon his own, and her to feel the hungering cold that encased his form. "End this torment." Everything he said now was a hushed, smooth, silken whisper.
"Don't be foolish..." She muttered, giving a slight tug at her hand to signify she sought it to be free. Somehow, she'd managed to surface herself from the deepening abyss he sank her to by simply staring into her eyes. Without hesitation he removed his grip from her. Slightly surprised by the ease of this, she took a step back to give them some physical distance. "To think you could say such things after telling me you are the chain that binds your "children" to control. Izumi will come for me regardless if I remain alive. So, why then...have you left me alive?"
"So eager to die are we?" Within an instant he had closed in on her once more. Both clawed hands held tenderly at her face, fingers within her chin length brown hair. Penetrating into her soul, his eyes seemed to tear away at her insides. Dissecting desires, thoughts, dreams, love, hate, sadness, any emotion or thought expressible. "Perhaps what I want is your sweet, intoxicating blood after slaying your Hunter lover. Maybe I want..." his voice became heavy with something, something that made a form of lust quake her body. "...your heart. For you to join me in my eternity."
"Eternity..." The thought had apparently never crossed her mind that the Count might turn her into one of them. Into a Vampire. It was as terrifying as it was...exhilarating. She couldn't quite understand why she wasn't as frightened as she presumed this encounter should make her. But as always, even when the razor sharp edge of his gaze gashed at her heart, she rebuked. "I refuse! To spend an eternity with you, my body dead and my mind full of grief, my world painted in the blackest of black. That is no eternity I want part in..."
"Then maybe I should just drink you dry, this very moment." He had already leaned in close as she spoke with defiance. Lips brushing against the nape of her neck. Slowly, his tongue teased upward along the side of her neck. Lips parted, mouth opened enough to take her skin within his mouth and playful nibble. Mizuki's hands hand rested on his arms, giving them a tight squeeze. It was all too apparent to him that he was doing something she obviously liked. Perhaps this noble girl had a dark side to her. "Or you could simply kill me, sparing Izumi the trouble."
"S-stop..." Breathlessly she attempted to thwart the pulses of pleasure she felt. It made her feel dirty, realizing she enjoyed having him nibble at her neck as he did. In fact, it repulsed her out right. Mustering up that seething dislike in enjoying something he did to her, she shoved away from him. "Cease this charade you play. I told you quite firmly, I refuse." Her breath was barely returning, her bottom lip quivered, and the Count looked more enticing than ever. Not a chance though that she would allow her resolve to quiver. Her heart remained to Izumi of the Holy Order.
"Very well, Mizuki." Again, the amusement flashed across his face. This was clearly quite the game to him. With a shrug of his shoulders, his cape seemed to conceal his lower half again. His glowing crimson eyes seemed all the more outlined by the dark black eye lashes framing them. It would appear for now, he would be retiring. The game having run its course for now, the seed planted within her mind. "I sense it. In the shadowed veil of the night, Izumi will come. The escape will be well planned to coincide with the cresting dawn. As only in the those Holy rays do I find burning reminder of my damnation. If you are to try your escape, remember this demonic weakness."
As he turned away from her, his cape ruffling wildly behind him to display a deep blood-red inline, the door opened several feet before he arrived at it. Yet another figure stood there, looking much less impressive. His hair was a burning fire red, attempting to be as stylish as the Counts but it just simply lacked. Whatever it was, he simply did not look like he was happy to see the Count. Aristocratic and quite especially Victorian, much the case with all in Castle Evalice, was how the new comer was dressed. Removing a silver monocle from his eyes, he tucked it within his pocket and tried to wipe the sneer from his face.
"Master Shin, I have taken the liberty of feeding the Naga in the dungeon a Hunter. To be precise, the last of our storage of Hunters." The way he said "Master" was full or resentment. His gaze wandered from the Count but for a moment to study the elegant figure that was Mizuki.
"Well, that simply won't do. How are we to keep our beast of burden happy with not a drop of food to feed them?" It was by his beckoning glare that the orange haired man returned his gaze back where it belonged, and not on Mizuki. "If I were you, dear Nakatsu, I would pray to your God that I not feed you to my next hungry "pet"."
"Of course, Master. Whatever would I do without your good graces, Master." Still, the resentment. Clearing his throat a bit, he reached for his monocle once more, and gave a curt nod to the lady. "On the topic of feeding. Should we allow our very mortal guest to have some very mortal, and dare I say, human food?" Nakatsu was already looking to her, ready to ask what she might desire to eat. For what was not announced, was Nakatsu was Count Shin's servant and grounds caretaker.
"I shall say when I see fit to feed this pet its food." The answer was cold and without hesitation or obvious sentiment of thought. A grin had spread across his porcelain features, wicked and yet housing a slight sense of boredom. As he began walking out of the room, leaving Mizuki to her silence, his cloak flowed with a silken excellence. However, his movements were not shown, simply seeming to glide out of the room.
Nakatsu eyed Mizuki, the girl that to him was without a name but simply a pretty face. A part of him felt sorry for her. In all the years he had become a slave to Count Shin's whims and care taking necessity, he had yet to stumble upon a time that a mortal human had been brought into Castle Evalice. What's more, he felt a desire to help the one deemed helpless. But he was weary of such a feeling, the Count having an ability to sense things once they had been ordained, that was unless the ordained decision had been decidedly changed. Closing the doors behind the count, he watched as Mizuki's image was replaced by the locking chamber doors. And with the close of the doors, she found herself dropping to her knee's, emotionally weakened by her encounter with the Demon of Evalice. Only now did tears find their way down her cheeks. For now, even though she trusted in Izumi's abilities, did she fear for his life. A flash of lightning to doused the room in light for but on more moment. Once it had retreated and been replaced with the roaring boom of thunder, the candlelight which kept the room in tender glow died out.
Finding the Castle Evalice was not the most difficult challenge a Knight of the Holy Order could have done, or for that fact, had ever done. Especially if you were Izumi of the Holy Order, who was a legend in this land. A member of the Twelve Apostles of the Holy Order, the twelve elite with in their rankings. When the Count had addressed him as a simple Hunter, that was a serious understatement. However, Izumi hadn't come alone, he had brought along the only free member of the Twelve he could manage to coerce into helping the removal of Count Shin from the House of Aristocrats. Spirit Lord Kayashima of the Holy Order was a far greater blessing to have come than any other member of the Twelve, Izumi knew this. For the man had an unimaginable power to sense the aura's of others. Living, dead, or damned. Relaying the presence of demons or even the Count himself, would be quite the easy task with the Spirit Lord at beckon call. Though the clouds held menace, they were nearly impossible to see in the darkness of this still night. Only when lightning offered the sky true illumination could one see how they swirled about Castle Evalice. Giving it a darker aura than usual, evil seeming to emanate from its very foundation.
"I believe the werewolves have retreated for now, Knight Lord." Kayashima was eyeing the lush forest surrounding the castle. As per usual for most castles, a mote existed around this one as well. They now stood before a draw bridge that would take them from the darkened and demon filled forest, to the inner castle gates where their true hunt could begin. "I still find it strange you couldn't convince them to help us fight against a Vampire. Their war has been a bloody one for centuries."
"I'm not entirely surprised. For as long as they have warred with each other, we have warred with them each step of the way. Back when the Order's highest ranking division was the Wolfcrone Dynasty. Well, before they themselves became true lycanthrope. Lord Lucien always admired their side of the war better than the Vampires..." Sighing softly at his words, Izumi sheathed his sword which had seen many uses along the way, placing his shield to his back. Taking off an armored glove, he wiped a drying pattern of spattered blood from his face. "Even better than our side of the conflict."
"Had almost forgotten about those old stories of the non-lycanthrope version of Wolfcrone." Laughing softly to himself, he glanced from Izumi to the wide open gates on the other side of the bridge. It was already apparent that they were very much expected, at this point he could tell it just a clever trap. "Still find it hard to believe a Vampire would seek to draw out the Order's finest, much less that he learned enough to approach on a personal level." Giving an inquisitive stare to Izumi, he found the only retort to be the rumble of thunder. Which that answer, worked well enough for the black haired Spirit Lord.
Kayashima was lightly armored, but they both wore a tabard the Order had ordained their crest. Which was simply a cross outlined with what appeared to be fire. It was more a motto than anything: "Purge in the purity of the Holy Flame, the tortured souls of the living dead and unholy sin's of existence.". Again, Izumi sighed. Placing his armored gauntlet back upon his hand. In his eyes, there was a fear that perhaps the unspeakable had already came to Mizuki. Izumi had taken charge instantly upon having heard what had occurred in the village. However, no one had told him just who had been taken, until he arrived in the village. Leaving his small battalion behind to protect the city, or at the least that was his pretenses, he and Kayashima had marched off together into the forest. Which held such despair it was often said to swallow one whole and suckle the sanity from them, till you were not but mindless ghouls. The story had been simple so far, and now he simply wanted to see Mizuki back alive and one of the greatest Lord's of the House of Aristocrats purged from the world of humankind. Izumi had a black cloak with gold embroidery around the edge. Though it was thick, it still danced about in the strong breeze.
"It is time, Spirit Lord." Glancing to his fellow member of the Twelve, he knew he need not say anything more. About that they might not come out alive. That should they separate, continue till Mizuki is located and believe that the other would get out on his own. They shared no words to calm any fears they may have held, but they did share words of the Order. "By blade and faith, I accept this test. Amen..."
"Amen, Knight Lord. By blade and faith, for the Holy Lord." Sliding the long sword from his back, Kayashima readied. A vile number of ghastly beings had culminated along the bridge. From here, it would a never-ending battle against unholy apparitions and other things that "go bump in the night". That children would only know of as fairytale and nightmare, they would face a very real Hell full of them.
Before their blades, numerous demons fell. Though never did they know just what they were killing. Some were wolf-beast, other serpents that should never exist, foul gnome-ish creatures controlling thin spider web like razor strings tempted to dice them to ribbons. But still they charged on. More and more bizarre did the monsters become along the way, but never did they stop. That is, until they reached the inner walls and stood before the large door, which once opened, led to the deepest depths of the castle. To either side of the door stood fearsome creatures, froth rolling from their mouths and snarling. Deep growls brewed in their chest and echoed within the ears of both knights. To their surprise, however, the demons spoke a form of dialect the two of them fully understood.
"Noe, uninvited guest stomp upon the welcome mat of Castle Evalice!" roared the demon, appearing more like a giant werewolf, standing on his hind legs and wielding an axe several times to big, but housing the strength to use it no less. Blood matted his fur around his face, chest, and old wounds across his body.
"Sekime, I believe Lord Shin would be very happy to see them dead, nyoo!" Fearsome as the cat-beast looked, it only managed to shoot a glare at the two knights, who chortled nearly in unison. The reasoning did not skip over the simple minded beast. "You laugh at I, Demon Noe of the Feline, nyoo!"
"Unwise, says I, Demon Sekime of the Canine!" His voice was far more menacing, but they had set a stage that left only comedic value to the knights they had sought to intimidate. Raising his axe high, he slammed it heavily to the ground but a few feet from Izumi, sending large fragments of the ground up-turned. Izumi simply smirked to the dog demon, a simple shake of his head.
"As if he would be frightened of a dog, nyoo!" cackled Noe, a very cat like cackle no less. But he wasn't to cackle long, as Sekime swung his fist upward at Noe, landing a heavy blow to the cat demon just beneath his chin. Regaining his composure, the two met glare to glare.
"I'll end you for embarrassing me, Noe!"
Sighing to himself, Kayashima switched his gaze over to Izumi. There wasn't amusement now, just annoyance. All the demons they had to fight to get here, and now the two elite who guarded the doorway to the Evalice simply picked a fight with each other. Izumi was actually more embarrassed than Demon Sekime was. It simply left a bad taste in his mouth watching the two demons. Eventually they had to step aside and the warring beast took their fight on the bridged for a few moments before toppling over into the mote. Once more, they were greeted by the howling wind and a soft rumble of thunder.
"Well, guess we'll be moving on then..." Finally the silence had been interupted. Izumi gave Kayashima a soft pat on the back, which with them wearing armor and all, made for a rather loud clamor. Proceeding towards the doorway, he showed little surprise when the door simply opened by itself. No caution taken before walking into the shadowy abyss before him.
"Castle of Stooges if you ask me..." mumbled Kayashima, also not taking the time to be cautious before he also found himself within the dark void, the doors slamming heavily behind him.
Though dark, the two could see things very easily thanks mostly in part to the flashes of lightning and the over gratuitous amounts of windows. That was, until they got past the main hall. Due to a vampires inability to step within the light of day, too many windows would be rather impractical. This would be the beginning of their quest in the enormous cavern like castle, far too spacious for its own good. And in one of these rooms was the reason they came here. Whether she be dead, alive, or simply damned, they would find her and the Bloody Count that abducted her.
"But why..." questioned Mizuki, holding a dimly lit candle as she trudged through a darkened corridor, keeping a close watch on the fiery haired man before her. "Why did you decide to help me?" She was trying to carry a soft and caring tone, despite having to whisper. Regardless his motives, the man Count Shin called Nakatsu was helping her escape. And apparently the demons of the castle respected him as much as they did the Count, as they stayed quite far away.
"I can't stand the Count. I've served him all these years simply because he was the greatest power in this land. But If your Izumi of the Holy Order is as powerful as not only you, but Count Shin boast, then I foresee the fall of Castle Evalice." Grumbled the grumpy caretaker. Every time he spoke of Shin he seemed to cringe, having an aversion to him that he hadn't entirely explained, till now. "Besides, the guy is a royal prick. He bested me in a...game of chess back in the early 1800s, I've lost track of time, I fear. But point is, he beat me and I wagered my soul! I've been that sack of dead skin and ice's servant far longer than I wished to be. Once he's dead the curse of Eternal Life will leave me..." While his story was down right silly, he was becoming emotional at the prospect of true freedom.
"A curse of Eternal Life?" Mizuki shuddered at the thought. It was obvious Nakatsu wasn't a Vampire, yet somehow he'd been cursed by the Count. Now it required the death of Lord Shin before he could once more have a normal life. Though, with her free now and the hope of running into Izumi on the way out, she was hoping they wouldn't have to worry about fighting Shin. That everything would end without anyone else having to be hurt. "All that over a chess game its..." She chose her words wisely, so as not to enrage her rescuer. "...an amazing story, Sir Nakatsu."
"Well, it is certainly a pleasure to hear a beautiful woman like you give praise to such a-..." Nakatsu dropped his candle quickly, which caused Mizuki's gaze to fall upon the floor. The echo rang all around, they had made it to the main hall so far without incident. However, as her eyes fell to the floor it noticed something quite peculiar. The clawed, bloodied hand, sticking from Nakatsu's back. Clenching his clawed fist, Shin lifted Nakatsu from the ground and flung him aside. His landing noted by a sickening snap. Yet he was not dead, just horribly wounded and sporting a broken arm. "M-Master Shin...you bastard! I was only taking her for a..."
"For a walk, Nakatsu?" Snarled the Count, the intensity of his anger pouring from his glare would have been enough to shatter the moon from the sky. Giving his right hand a slice through the air, Nakatsu's blood spattered across the floor, cleaning the Count of what he seemed to hold as "filthy blood". All this so he could wrap that hand tightly around Mizuki's throat, holding her up off the ground and sending a quick yet suddenly silenced squeak echoing through the hall. "The source of Nakatsu's betrayal. I suppose I should have ended your life much sooner so that my little plan didn't run into any sympathetic disasters."
"Its good to see that she is still alive and untainted, Count Shin. I was growing curious just where she was now hidden, considering the chamber with her aura all about it was pleasantly empty." Kayashima had appeared on the scene first. Apparently the two Knights had broken up to cover more ground, but thanks to his keen ability, it was no trouble for him to locate Mizuki first. "I request you drop the woman and stand ready to face the penalty for your crimes, Demon of Evalice."
"Most intriguing. I wasn't expecting the Spirit Lord to show any interest into helping Izumi. I must say Kayashima, you've caught me off guard." With a heaving grunt, he flung Mizuki from his grasp and towards a large stone column. With what little energy he held, Nakatsu sprang out and caught her, slamming heavily into the pillar and sending spider web cracks along the stone. "Seems his uses have all dried up."
Mizuki dropped from Nakatsu's arms, taking a small fall to the floor that was something she wouldn't notice. The form of the caretaker was held in the pillar by the fact he'd been wedged into it. The curse of Eternal Life he held meant many things, including he could be maimed in many versatile ways, yet still not die unless the one who cursed him released the curse, or was killed. Count Shin, however, was not a forgiving creature when it came to his servants, especially Nakatsu. Coughing, while grasping her throat, Mizuki propped herself on one hand and looked to both Shin and Kayashima, watching as the Knight descended the stairs towards the vampire.
"Why does everyone have to fight? Can't the hurting stop?!" Though scratchy, she tried to plead with everyone to simply stop. Despite having just met him, she could tell Nakatsu had a pure soul. He was trying to keep her alive at the cost of his own thresh hold of pain, which he'd reached obviously and was now passed out. New blood adorned her dress now, the feeling of being the cause of so much hurt was overwhelming to her.
"Surely I have taught you Mizuki, that all evil in this world ought only to be purged in Holy flame." Izumi approached from the very staircase that Kayashima had, tossing his shield to the ground and flicking the blood from his blade, in much the same manner Shin had from his clawed hand. "There can be no peace to those who do not seek peace. House of Aristocrats has eyed you for centuries for your bloodlust, Demon of Evalice." Raising his sword to Count Shin's eye level, he directed a menacing glare. "I should think we will receive thanks upon your ending."
"Even the House seeks me out, now do they?" Shaking his head, Shin thrust his arms from beneath his cape to reach up and remove the latching which kept the cape attached to him. The silken drape fell to the ground, blood side up. An omen he found all too delightful, as a smirk has spread across his face. "I am the last true to the name Vampire. Those are just old men, waiting to blow away like the dust whence they came." Stomping a booted foot to the ground which rose to his knee's, buckles jingling from each strap. He stood ready to fight, but only angled towards Izumi. "Now, Iscariot, remove the spare and lets end this." Nodding his head towards Kayashima, the delighted expression was almost too welcome to him, as was as the sound. The resonating of Izumi's blade as it pierced effortlessly through the chest plate that was to protect the Spirit Lord.
"Sorry, old friend. But in this world, even the Order is a force for which be damned and deserve to purge themselves in the very fires they claim to control." The color had already left Kayashima's eyes, a direct stab through the heart would do no less to anyone else. With a metallic thud, there now was only Izumi and his villainous vampire. "My condolences that you had to be the first to taste truths wrath, dearest Spirit Lord Kayashima." Blade once more turned towards Count Shin, he was all but ready.
"Izumi! I can't believe you..." Mizuki was in tears. She'd never seen so much she didn't understand. But it was clear now, she couldn't tell who was more the monster, the vampire or the betrayer. "You speak so differently. What has caused you to turn on the Order? What do you possess that they-..."
"All the righteousness that a true Knight need to purge the world of evil. Lycanthrope, Vampire, and the Order. They are the worlds greatest energies." It was painful for him to have to explain this to her, but he could only hope she would one day understand him. "Please don't hate me. They are this worlds greatest sin. Once all three are crushed at their source, then this world will have the peace you seek. All will be purged who defy the right of peace." His teeth were gritting, hard with anger and a feeling of intense justice ran through him that dripped from his words like venom.
"Very moving speech, future Emperor of the World." Sighing, he softly turned his head to gaze at Mizuki from his peripheral vision. If he stepped away from this, there would be no need for games. The girl would have seen what true evil was. Now, however, he sought to silence the games in light of truth. "Mizuki, a monster isn't a being. Anything, anyone, can be a monster. Its your actions that define what you truly are. This is the one great truth you must remember..." His voice was like velvet again, and he knew he had gotten to her. Then he lunged forward, Izumi following suit.
"No!"
Her scream wasn't enough to over-ride the bloody roars of both men as they seemed to fly towards each other. Shin's clawed right hand darted towards Izumi the Betrayer, a dark energy emitting from it and trailing behind it. Izumi's blade bursted forth with a white fire, his target to behead the Demon of Evalice.
Screaming, Mizuki flailed this way and that, soon toppling from the top bunk and onto the floor. Of course, it took this action to wake her from her deep sleep. Slowly, Sano's head poked from the drapes of the lower bunk and stared at the poor girl. He had been woken up by her screaming during her sleep a few times, but this one had to take cake. Reaching out he gave her side a gentle rub to see if she was alright.
"You alright?" he finally asked, when he heard a soft sob come from the once thought lifeless body of Mizuki.
"Y-yes..." she managed to squeak out. She was crying, that dream terrified her, if nothing else. Quickly, she turned to face Sano, looking him in the eyes. Which she didn't expect to see alight with surprise. His features were different, he wasn't the hardened betrayer she'd seen in her dream. Because thats what it was. "It was all just a dream..." Sighing, she felt a very large smile spread across her face, as she sprang up and hugged Sano tightly.
"What are you talking about? Of course it was all just a dream. Didn't bump your head on the way down did you?" Softly he chuckled, hugging his Mizuki back. She was hugging him so tightly he couldn't help but feel she probably really needed it.
"Sorry that I woke you up! I know with your injury and all you need all the rest you can get! I'll try to keep it down up here..." Laughing a bit now, she released herself from Sano's hug and jumped back up into the top bunk. "Goodnight, Sano!"
"Goodnight, Mizuki." Shaking his head, he laid back down to disappear into his own world of dreams. Maybe tomorrow morning he would ask her just what she had a dream about. But then again, maybe not. As for now, the two would return to the world where anything could happen. For it was a world governed by no reality, only your own imagination.
Next time we'll have actual plot progression! I hope you enjoyed the filler chapter. Let me know what you think! Please read and review. I do not own any characters used in this story! However, the basis and ideas of the main side-story are purely mine. All rights of character names and uses of Hana Kimi belong to their respective creator! Again, hope you enjoyed. Until next time, adieu!